Joey Magidson
Sometimes I wonder if a new Pixar film will ever be judged solely on its own merits again? After all, the animation giant churned out so many instant classics, anything they release has those sorts of expectations to contend with. Of late, the movies they’ve put out have suffered due to that. Sometimes, it’s due to being a sequel. Other times, an original work is just compared to whatever the most similar prior effort is. Well, at least in the case of Elio, there isn’t an easy one to one comparison. That allows the flick to stand on its own. Whats the verdict? It’s pretty good, all in all.
Elio is sort of a reminder of what Pixar does well, even if it never manages to be especially exceptional in any one regard. Adult themes presented in a way that children won’t be turned off by? Check. A family friendly adventure with nearly as much for parents as their little ones? Check. Impeccable animation? Check. It’s all here. The thing is, it all adds up to being very good this time around, as opposed to great, which we know they’re more than capable of.
Elio (voice of Yonas Kibreab) is, to put it mildly, a big fan of outer space. He’s also grieving the loss of his parents, now living with his aunt Olga (voice of Zoe Saldaña), whom he constantly is at odds with. They love each other, but he wants his folks, while she doesn’t understand his manic personality. She also has had to give up her dreams of being an astronaut to raise him, currently working as a Major in a government facility involved with the space program. Elio is desperate to not be alone, with designs on leaving the planet in that search. To that end, and inspired by a Voyager 1 satellite exhibit, he starts sending messages of his own to space, much like the “golden record” that Voyager had, even using a powerful satellite at Olga’s base.
Before long, a spaceship picks up his message and comes for Elio. Mistaking him as the leader of Earth, they invite him to join the Communiverse, which he’s more than eager to do. Friends abound on the ship, so Elio continues to play the part, even agreeing to negotiate a deal with the Hylurgian warlord Lord Grigon (voice of Brad Garrett). Of course, his ruse will eventually be found out, Olga will make it clear that she’s his true family, and we’ll get a happily ever after. In the meantime, however, there’s some space adventures to be had.
The voice work is very fitting for the roles, even if no one especially shines. Yonas Kibreab makes Elio feel distinct, while Zoe Saldaña leans in to the exasperation that Olga feels. As for Brad Garrett, his deep and booming voice is well suited for what appears to be a singularly villainous role, though there’s layers to be found there by the end. Garrett, much like Kibreab and Saldaña, clearly are enjoying themselves, which lends the voice work a sense of joy. Other voice actors here include Remy Edgerly, Shirley Henderson, and Jameela Jamil, among others (like archival recordings of Carl Sagan, for example.
Directors Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina make Elio a visual treat. The screenplay by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones (Story By credits go to Cho, Molina, Sharafian, and Shi) doesn’t try to do too much. Instead, they lean in to the fun of being a kid in space, amongst all sorts of aliens. Visually, it’s sumptuous and a treat. On a plot level, it’s simple, though the feelings of grief, loneliness, and wondering what else is out there are palpable. Plus, the use of Sagan is simple yet profoundly effective.
Elio doesn’t necessarily have that little bit extra that the top tier of Pixar works have, but it doesn’t need it, either. Taken on its own merits, it’s a lovely little adventure that just about everyone can enjoy. The more you watch it as a singular work, removed from the masterpieces of Pixar past, the more you’ll grab on to it and find the film to be very enjoyable.
SCORE: ★★★
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